By Raza Mehdi
Sep 07, 2022
The handful of remaining Icelandic Horses is one of the oldest breeds in the world and are well-adapted to the Icelandic climate. Their pony-like structure makes them quite sturdy and strong. They were brought to Iceland by the Vikings in the 8th century.
A tough little number
The cheetah is the world's fastest land animal that can reach a speed of 110 km per hour in just over three seconds. It wouldn't be long before this little one grows to be a formidable predator, just like its mother.
Like mother, like cub
This show-stopper is called Scarlet ibis. Found in the mangrove swamps, lakes, and other wetlands in northern South America, this is the only shorebird with red colouration in the world. It is also the national bird of Tobago and Trinidad, countries in the Caribbean.
A flair for drama
The wildebeest is a herbivorous animal that grazes all day. Herds numbering in thousands migrate at the end of the rainy season to humid regions in Kenya. Most predators prey on them, but the strategy of sticking together helps them evade being attacked.
On the road to adventure
Relatively sedentary, the king penguin lives near the sea in colonies numbering in the thousands. The chicks have a thick, brown down that changes colour with age. The penguins are expert divers, reaching depths of greater than 240 metres, but deliberately walk slow on land.
King of the Antarctic
Highly social and intelligent, the elephant is the largest land animal. Sadly, the survival of the species is in grave danger. Despite a ban on the ivory trade, this majestic mammal has been hunted for its tusks for years.
Old and wise
The adult lion can reach a height of 6.5ft standing on its hind legs and weigh up to 260kgs. Their size is not the only fearsome thing; you can hear the male's roar as far as eight kilometres away.
King of the jungle
Faster and lighter than the mighty lions, the lioness is a fierce hunter that hunts in groups to bring down large prey. Unlike other large felines, it prefers to stay in the pride to raise its young and provide ample food for all.
Queen of the hunt
The Siberian tiger is a reclusive feline that isn't afraid of hunting large prey, like wapiti, elk or buffalo. They are the world's biggest cats, with 95% residing in the Russian Far East.
This cat doesn't get cold feet
The parrot is an intelligent bird and the only one that can mimic human language. It has distinctive feet, with two of its toes facing forward and two backwards which helps them grip branches and hold objects more easily.
Colourful like a rainbow
Who says zebras are docile? Zebra has never been domesticated—it's not interested in humans or the amenities that a "master" provides. This social animal lives in herds and feeds on reeds, leaves, herbs and grass.
I'm not a pony!
Did you know we share about 98% of our DNA with gorillas? These primates are one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom. Native to Africa, these gentle giants are generally shy and only become aggressive if provoked.
Our distant cousins
The Nile crocodile is the second largest crocodile in the world, native to the freshwater of Africa. They are found in rivers, freshwater marshes, and swampland. These crocodiles can swim at a speed of 22mph. Its bite is five times stronger than that of a lion.
Look at those jaws!
The deer is a peaceful and reserved animal that typically lives in the forest and feeds on soft vegetation. Deer have a great sense of smell and hearing. All male deer have horns that fall off and grow back each year.
Lord of the woods
The eagle is a fast and agile predator. There are more than sixty species of eagles throughout the world. An eagle's eyesight is up to 8 times stronger than humans. They can see five basic colours and can even detect UV light. Have you been lucky enough to spot one?
Sniper in the air
This beautiful feline is a leopard—a solitary predator found in several regions of the world, from Africa to Asia. An expert at camouflage, the leopard hunts exclusively at night and takes its prey up on the trees for a peaceful meal away from other meat-eaters.
Master of camouflage